Demolition crews were tearing down part of the historic East Wing of the White House on Monday to begin construction of President Donald Trump's ballroom, a project they said would not interfere with the existing landmark.
A large construction crew was seen dismantling the façade of the building, a part of the White House complex that housed the first lady's offices, a theater and a visitor entrance that welcomes foreign dignitaries.
The ballroom project is expected to cost more than $250 million, which Trump said in July would be paid for by himself and donors.
“It's going to be beautiful,” Trump said at the time. “It won't interfere with the existing building. It won't be; it will be close to it, but not touching it. And it totally respects the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of. It's my favorite.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment Monday about the demolition of the current East Wing building.
Trump announced Monday that work had begun on the project after images of the demolition began circulating in news reports.
“Right behind us, we're building a ballroom,” Trump told college baseball athletes from Louisiana State University in the East Room of the nearby White House residence. “I didn't know it would be here right now because right on the other side there is a lot of construction going on, which you might hear about periodically.”
Future parties will begin with cocktails in the East Room before guests are invited to what Trump has said will be the “best” ballroom in the country, with views of the Washington Monument and space for 999 people.
“Completely separate from the White House, the East Wing is being completely modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is finished!” he later said on Truth Social.
Trump, who was a real estate developer before launching his political career, has made major aesthetic changes to the White House, carefully choosing gold ornamentation for the Oval Office and remaking the Rose Garden in the style of his golf clubs. He has also taken an interest in the capital city of Washington and its surrounding areas, proposing an Arc de Triomphe-style monument to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
The current east wing was built in 1942, during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt and in the midst of World War II, on a bunker built for the president's use in case of emergency.
But the complex sometimes struggles to accommodate the number of the president's employees, visitors and guests who want to attend his events. Several White House state dinners, for example, have been held in a tent erected on the South Lawn.
